Criminal action against FCI for letting grains rot

New Delhi, Jul 13: The government has finally cracked a whip against the criminal wastage of food grains.

In the recent past thousands of tonnes of wheat was ruined in the rains as it was kept in open instead of being stored in a safe and dry place.

Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has now said that criminal action would be taken against Food Corporation of India (FCI) officials in Uttar Pradesh who were responsible for causing food grain wastage by storing it in the open during the rainy season.

"I have discussed the matter a dozen times with the authorities concerned, but nothing has been done. I have told the FCI Chairman and Managing Director that he should immediately take suspension action. If possible, criminal action should be taken against the officers concerned," the minister said.

"In certain places of Uttar Pradesh, food grains are not kept properly. This is the rainy season and they need to cover them at least by tarpaulin. But that was not done," Pawar added.

The reports of the food grains going in waste due to negligence of few officials had shocked the country few months ago as a major part of the country was still reeling under the hunger and poverty.

However, wastage of food grains is not an uncommon eventuality because India has deficient storage capacity and does not have a solid public distribution system so that the food grains reach the poor.